Material requirements planning system

• US 5,101,352 A
• Filed: 06/29/1989
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolina Cipher Greensboro County of Guilford
• Original Assignee: Carolina Cipher
• Inventors: Rembert, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cass, Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US07/373,902
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 364/403, 364/401, 364/468, 364/551.01
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

An integrated MRP system for distributors, manufacture and job shops is provided. The MRP system of the present invention is specifically directed to an user which manufactures and sells products that have a wide variety of options. In particular, the MRP system of the present invention provides two key features. The first feature allows the user to define items which uniquely characterize the product for a customer order, purchase order, to work order. The second unique feature of the MRP system of the present invention is the application of user-defined formulas which allow the user to include user-defined formulas which determined the quantity and/or size of a part based on the selected options. Thus, the MRP system of the present invention allows the user who manufactures and sells a number of styles with a wide variety of options to employ an MRP system without a correspondingly high manintenance overhead.

Claims

1. A computer system for controlling the output of production, including pricing, costing, scheduling etc., of manufactured items, said system comprising:

(a) input means for receiving production information;

(b) data file means for storing said production information in a storage device;

(c) control means for interrogating said data file means, storing said production information and using the result of such interrogation to create a parameter table for controlling said output, said parameter table having a plurality of elements which can be set to pre-determined values or can be determined by user-defined formulas as a function of any of the other elements already in said parameter table;

wherein said control means for interrogating said data file means, storing said production information and using the result of such interrogation to create said parameter table containing said selected production information is selectively operable between said pre-determined values and said user-defined formulas.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said production information includes data for sales orders, inventory items, purchase orders, estimates, and work orders.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said production information further includes data for product standards including product dependent labor, material, services and other costs items and standard operations including product independent labor, materials services and other costs items.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said data file means is divided into separate files, one each for said sales order data, inventory item data, purchase order data, estimate data, and work order data.

5. A method for controlling the output of production, including pricing, costing, scheduling etc., of manufactured items, said system comprising:

(a) receiving production information;

(b) storing said production information in a storage device;

(c) interrogating said storage device, storing said production information and using the result of such interrogation to create a parameter table for controlling said output, said parameter table having a plurality of elements which can be set to pre-determined values or can be determined by user-defined formulas as a function of any of the other elements already in said parameter table;

wherein step (c) is selectively operable between said pre-determined values and said user-defined formulas.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said production information includes data for sales orders, inventory items, purchase orders, estimates, and work orders.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said production information further includes data for product standards including product dependent labor, material, services and other costs items and standard operations including product independent labor, materials, services and other costs items.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said production information is divided into separate files, one each for said sales order data, inventory item data, purchase order data, estimate data, and work order data.